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50 families just completed YVSC's Food Waste Challenge.
Congrats Food Waste Warriors! |
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April is here and people are planning their spring break and mud season escapes. Unfortunately, because of Steamboat's unique vacation schedule, Earth Day comes and goes without much fanfare locally. That's why YVSC promotes our "Every Day is Earth Day" month-long celebration. Read on for more details on our Earth Month events and opportunities to take action to protect the planet or follow us on Facebook to get your daily dose of Every Day is Earth Day resources and information.
Sarah B. Jones
Executive Director |
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Earth Day - April 22
This year's global Earth Day campaign is about environmental and climate literacy. YVSC is offering lots of events this month to learn more about protecting our environment and our climate. We also have volunteer opportunities in several programs. You can make a difference locally by helping businesses recycle it right, sorting used classroom supplies, planting trees, assisting with a recycled art project, staffing waste stations at community events, and more.
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Make it Earth Day every day in the Yampa Valley
The need to take action to protect what we all love about the Yampa Valley has never been more urgent. YVSC is bringing our community together to increase energy efficiency, waste diversion and carbon sequestration to preserve our pure air, clean water, healthy forests and world-class winters for future generations.
Please donate in honor of Earth Day to engage our community EVERY SINGLE DAY in conserving resources and reducing our collective carbon footprint.
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ReTree 2017 - Dates are set!
YVSC's ReTree Steamboat program engages volunteers to plant and care for site-specific native tree species and connects the local community, especially youth, to our forest and environment. Since 2010, YVSC has engaged 2,706 volunteers ages 2 - 72 to plant and care for 25,565 trees!
Kicking off on Colorado Arbor Day 4/21, we'll be planting at Hayden Valley Elementary School, followed by Elkhead Reservoir State Park on 5/7, Workman Park on 6/11 and Stagecoach State Park on 10/8. We need volunteers for most locations. Sign up and get a free T-shirt and lunch--and the satisfaction of making a lasting impact on local forests.
ReTree would not be possible without our community partners. YVSC is seeking sponsors for ReTree starting at the $500 level. The deadline for sponsorship commitments is April 17.
>
Click here for a sponsorship packet.
> Learn more about the ReTree program and this year's planting and stewardship projects.
> Sign up to volunteer online.
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What's in your bucket?
Food: Too Good to Waste Challenge
The average family of four loses $1,500 to food waste each year. Imagine what you could do with an extra $1,500.
Over the past six weeks, 50 families have been tracking their preventable food waste through YVSC's Food Waste Challenge. Throughout the Challenge, participants have become more mindful of eating their leftovers and preparing produce before it goes bad. The easiest step we all can do to reduce food waste is designate a shelf in your fridge for produce, leftovers and other items that need to be eaten. Hang up this "Eat Me First" sign on your shelf so the whole family knows what food to eat or cook next.
Even if you didn't participate in the Challenge, YVSC has resources and strategies to help you reduce your food waste
available online
.
> Reducing food waste will help you save money and keep good food out of the landfill!
Email cameron@yvsc.org to be included in the next Food Waste Challenge.
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Waste-Free Lunch Challenge
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8th Grade Green Team weighs their lunchroom for the Waste-Free Lunch Challenge.
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Emerald Mountain School, Mountain Village Montessori, Strawberry Park Elementary, Soda Creek Elementary and Steamboat Springs Middle School are all participating in YVSC's Waste-Free Lunch Challenge and a national cafeteria waste data collection project through the Environmental Research and Education Foundation's School Cafeteria Discards Assessment Project (SCrAP). Student Green Teams at each school are weighing and recording trash, recycling and food scraps six times before the Challenge culminates with the start of spring break. Once weighing is complete, each school will receive a snapshot of how their waste compares to others in the state and across the nation. They'll also be eligible to win $1,500 for their school.
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One Big Home: Man vs. Mansion Colorado premiere screening
Twelve years in the making,
One Big Home
follows one carpenter's journey to understand the trend toward giant houses. Bumping up against angry homeowners and builders who look the other way, he works with his community and attempts to pass a new bylaw to limit house size.
Thank you to our 2017 Green Building Sponsors!
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Green Drinks and
Rachel Carson movie
Tuesday, April 18
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Dude & Dan's
1106 Lincoln Ave.
Join YVSC for an evening of social networking for global change at Dude & Dan's. Happy Hour specials will be offered, and the game room will be available for families. This event is open to everyone, so please bring a friend!
In addition, the YVSC team will be heading over to Bud Werner Memorial Library after Green Drinks to watch the documentary
Rachel Carson
. Please join us to learn more about one of the pioneers of grassroots environmentalism.
Thank you to our 2017 Talking Green Sponsors
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YVSC is hiring a Water Monster Coordinator, seasonal
YVSC is looking for someone to transport, set-up and fill the 120-gallon Water Monsters this summer at community events. This position is 4-6 hours/week and is flexible. Weekend availability is important, and a valid driver's license and access to a working vehicle (truck preferred) is required.
Each time the Water Monster is used, 1,000+ single-use plastic water bottles are kept out of the landfill. Not only is plastic harmful to the environment, but the energy required to manufacture and transport these bottles severely drains limited fossil fuels.
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A-Z Hard to Recycle Guide now online
For community members with hard-to-recycle items, visit YVSC's new, online A-Z Recycle Guide for a comprehensive up-to-date recycle guide.
Or, you can hold your hard-to-recycle items until the fall Community Recycling Drop-Off.
> Keep an eye out for a hard copy of the Guide in the Steamboat Pilot in May.
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EV Ride-n-Drive vehicles needed June 17
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Stay tuned for the participation of a new Chevy Bolt at the Ride-n-Drive. With a 238-mile charged range, the Bolt is the Motor Trend 2017 Car of the Year.
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YVSC will again host an educational electric vehicle event during the Mustang Rally in downtown Steamboat Springs from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17. We need electric vehicles!
> If you would like to bring an electric vehicle of any kind, please contact Suzie@yvsc.org.
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Taking Action on Climate Change
Since November, we have received many calls and emails from people, frustrated by what they see happening in Washington, D.C., asking how they can take action to fight climate change. We feel the same frustration and have decided to dedicate a section of our newsletter to provide tools and resources to empower locals to take action.
In honor of Earth Day, our action for April is to attend the March for Science
on Earth Day, April 22, or the People's Climate March
on April 29. Both marches are an opportunity to show your support for evidence-based policymaking and continued work, at all levels of government, to actively reduce our carbon footprint. The Sierra Club is planning a local People's Climate March in Steamboat. We'll keep you posted on the details, as they develop. Stay tuned!
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Upcoming Events
April 12
6:30 p.m.
Library Hall
April 18
5:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Dude & Dans
April 22
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